Antitrust Figure Joshua Wright Faces Counterclaim in $108M Defamation Suit Involving Ex-Students

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Former FTC Commissioner and ex-law professor at George Mason University’s ASS Law, Joshua Wright, who had filed a $108 million suit against Elyse Dorsey, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, and Angela Landry, a counsel at Freshfields, is facing a counterclaim. The accusations against Wright are that he engaged Dorsey and Landry in sexual relationships while they were first-year law (1L) students in his class, continuation of which into their careers was supposedly out of fear of professional repercussions of rejecting him, a significant antitrust figure.

Wright’s lawsuit, interestingly, appears to accept some of these accusations, without specifically addressing the alleged false or defamatory statements by Dorsey or Landry. As per his complaint, Wright begins to admit that he started sexual relationships with both women while they were his law student and research associates. It also admits giving them professional opportunities throughout the relationships.

In his defense, Wright portrays his accusers as self-serving blackmailers and highlights his non-predatory nature. However, he does not seem to understand that it’s this acknowledged factual stuff damaging his professional reputation.

The counterclaim filed by Dorsey and Landry alludes to Virginia’s anti-SLAPP suit, suggesting Wright’s case might be a SLAPP suit designed to misuse defamation law to cow potential accusers into silence. Presented with a defamation lawsuit that doesn’t clarify false statements and demands an exorbitant amount in damages, one might find this case has a…SLAPP-like feel to it.

Additional information regarding previous allegations against Wright and Dorsey and Landry’s responses can be found in these articles: